Clearer for long-draft spinning aprons



March 8, 1955 p, PQOVEY 2,703,440

CLEARER FOR LONG-DRAFT SPINNING APRONS Filed June 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l I VENTOR: 4 Paw! Dawn var a BY :3; 0 22 24 1- M 44- ATTORNEYS,

March 8, 1955 P. D. POOVEY 2,703,440

CLEARER FOR LONG-DRAF'I' SPINNING APRONS Filed June 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PERQY Dnr/p away BY zdmm ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent CLEARER FOR LONG-DRAFT SPINNING APRONS Perry David Poovey, Lincolnton, N. C., assignor to Glen Mills, Incorporated, Lincolnton, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina Application June 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,405

8 Claims. (Cl. 19--131) This invention relates to long-draft spinning, roving and other like textile drafting frames or machines of the type having top and bottom intermediate drawing rolls with complementary aprons or belts encircling the same and extending forwardly and about respective tensor bars disposed immediately rearwardly of the front top and bottom drafting rolls for supporting and drafting relatively long textile fibers in their course between the intermediate and front rolls and which are employed in the mechanism for drafting textile rovings or slivers. More especially, the invention is especially directed to a clearer or wiper for preventing accumulations of lint and other matter on the lowermost of the complementary set of aprons or belts of the long-draft mechanism.

As is well known in the art, lint and other small fibers adhere to the aprons of the long'draft mechanism as the roving or sliver passes between the complementary sets of belts and is attenuated thereby as it passes from the front portions of the belts through the nip of the front rolls and it is an object of this invention to provide a clearer which may be readily mounted on and removed from the usual cradle which guides the complementary sets of belts or aprons and which clearer engages the lower reach of the lower apron and wipes lint and other small particles or fibers off the lower apron or belt.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved clearer for the lower belt of a complementary set or pair of long-draft belts or aprons in combination with a cradle which guides the belts, which clearer can be made from a relatively thin rigid material, such as sheet metal and, which comprises a lateral base having upturned opposite side portions thereon whose proximal surfaces project inwardly and are adapted to fit in corresponding races or grooves provided in opposite sides of the cradle and which clearer has upwardly diverging portions on its front and rear ends whose upper edges engage, or are disposed in close proximity to, the lower reach of the lowermost of the complementary belts or aprons.

Thus, the lower belt moves past the upper edges of the upwardly diverging portions of the clearer and, in so doing, any lint or other matter collected on the lower belt or apron engages the front inclined portion of the clearer and is thus deflected off of the lower reach of the lower belt. The rearmost wiper element of the two also serves to engage any lint or other foreign matter which happens to pass the front wiper element without being removed from the lower reach of the lower apron or belt, thereby insuring that all of the lint or other foreign matter is cleared from the lower belt of the longdraft mechanism.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the drafting mechanism of a spinning frame or the like showing the long-draft aprons or belts associated with the intermediate rolls and showing the improved clearer mounted on the long-draft cradle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the long-draft mechanism removed from the machine and looking down substantially along line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation partially in section showing the long-draft mechanism removed from the machine, looking at the lower side of Figure 2, and showing the 2,703,440 Patented Mar. 8, 1955 means by which the improved clearer is removably attached to the cradle;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the long-draft mechanism looking at the left-hand side of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the improved long-draft apron clearer removed from the cradle;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation partially in section showing the long-draft unit or mechanism removed from the machine, looking at the right-hand side of Figure 3 and showing the improved clearer mounted thereon.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings, there are shown parts of a so-called Casablancas long-draft spinning frame including upper and lower back or feed rolls 10, 11, upper and lower intermediate apron supporting rolls 12, 13 and upper and lower front or drawing rolls 14, 15. As is well known, the bottom rolls 11, 13 and 15 are driven at progressively increasing speeds and the back and front top rolls 10, 14 are driven by engagement with the respective bottom rolls 11, 15.

The intermediate top and bottom rolls 12, 13 are parts of a long-draft mechanism or unit, the cradle of which is broadly designated at 20. The long-draft unit comprises endless upper and lower long-draft aprons or belts 21, 22 which are mounted on the respective intermediate rolls 12, 13 and have their front loops guided over respective tensor bars or members 23, 24. The tensor members 23, 24 are held against forward recessed or apertured portions of vertical side frame members or plates 25, 26 which are provided with detachable rear plate portions 25a, 26a, respectively. A detailed description as to the manner in which the rear plate portions 25a, 26a are attached to the front plates 25, 26 is deemed unnecessary, since these plates, which are parts of the cradle 20 are illustrated as being substantially of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,232,079 issued to Otto W. Schlums on February 18, 1941. The plates or side frame members 25, 26 and their respective rear plate portions 25a, 26a serve to restrain the aprons or belts 21, 22 from lateral or axial displacement.

It will be noted that the proximal reaches of the endless belts 21, 22 are so supported by the rolls 12, 13 and tensor bars 23, 24 that the proximal runs or reaches of the belts for aprons 21, 22 are disposed in parallel relationship and in operative position for gripping and drafting the textile fibers in the strand of sliver or roving S passing therebetween while delivering them to the front rolls 14, 15

As is well known in the art, drafting machines are provided with suitable weighting means, not shown, for applying downward pressure to the top rolls l0, l2 and 14 so the sliver or roving S, as the case may be, is carried forward by the back rolls 10, 11 and is then carried forward by the proximal runs of the endless belts or aprons 21, 22 from whence the sliver or roving S passes forwardly between the front or drawing rolls 14, 15. The rear portions of the rear side plates or side frame members 25a and 26a are held in proper spaced relationship by means of a transverse bar 27 whose opposite ends are suitably connected to the rear side frame members 25a and 26a and which is disposed below the level of the pathlof travel of the strand S as is clearly shown in Figure It will be observed in Figure 3 that the proximal edges of each of the sets of side frame members 25, 25a and 26, 26:: are recessed to form an opening through which reduced portions of the bottom intermediate roll 13 extend for supporting the cradle 20 and the upper portions of the side frame members 25, 25a and 26, 26a are each cut away to provide a U-shaped notch or opening 31 therein in which the reduced portions of the top intermediate roll 12 are disposed and which facilitates lifting the top roll 12 out of the cradle 20 to permit threading the strand S between the aprons 21 and 22. The parts heretofore described are conventional and substantially as shown and described in said Patent No. 2,232,079 and it is with such or similar parts that the present invention is particularly adapted to be associated.

Referring to Figure 5, the improved long-draft apron clearer is broadly designated at 40 and is preferably formed from a single relatively thin sheet of rigid material, such as sheet metal or it may be molded from a suitable plastic material, if desired. The improved clearer comprises a relatively flat bottom or base 41 having upwardly projecting side wall portions or flanges 42, 43 on opposite sides thereof, each of which has a longitudinally extending inwardly projecting rib portion 44 thereon. It will be observed in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7 that the lower portion of each of the side frame members or walls 25, 26 has a longitudinally extending groove or raceway 45 formed in its outer surface in spaced parallel relationship to the lowermost edge thereof and the rib portions 44 on the side flanges 42, 43 are adapted to slidably fit in the grooves or recesses 45 in the respective side frame members 25, 26 to thereby snugly attach the improved clearer 40 to the cradle 20.

The front and rear ends of the base 41 are formed with respective upwardly diverging clearer blades, scraper elements or wiper elements 50, 51 whose side edges are spaced inwardly of the side flanges 42, 43 so these upwardly diverging wiper elements 50, 51 are disposed between the lower portions of the side plates or side frame members 25, 26 when the side flanges 42, 43 are disposed in engagement with the outer surfaces of the respective side walls or side frame members 25, 26 of the cradle 20.

It should be noted that the lower reach of the lower apron 22 is disposed above and substantially parallel to the lowermost edges of the side frame members 25, 26 of the cradle 20 and the upper or free edges of the wiper elements 50, 51 barely touch the lower reach of the lower apron 22 as it moves thereby.

Although some lint or other matter may adhere to the upper apron 21 as the strand S passes between the upper and lower long-draft aprons 21, 22, the lint which tends to adhere to the upper apron 21 will fall onto the lower apron 22 and, as the lower apron 22 rotates with the lower intermediate roll 13, it is apparent that any lint or other matter which adheres to the lower apron 22 as the strand of roving or sliver S passes between the aprons 21 and 22, will engage and be wiped off the lower reach of the lower apron 22 by the front wiper element 50. Of course, if any of the lint or other matter on the lower apron 22 passes rearwardly beyond the front wiper element 50 of the improved clearer 40, the rear wiper element 51 then assists in removing any accumulations of lint and the like from the lower apron 22.

The outer flanges 42, 43 of the clearer 40 are preferably resilient so the projections 44 thereon frictionally engage the walls of the corresponding grooves 45 and the respective side frame members 25, 26. Thus, the improved clearer may be easily installed on and removed from the cradle 20. In the event that lint or the like accumulates on the base 41 between the flanges 42, 43 and between the wiper elements 50, 51, it is apparent that the improved clearer 40 may be slid rearwardly off the lower portion of the cradle 20 and the lint and the like emptied therefrom, after which the clearer 40 may be easily reinstalled.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a long-draft spinning unit having a cradle including spaced side frame members and upper and lower longdraft aprons guided for movement between said side frame members, an improved clearer comprising a base having upwardly projecting flanges on opposite side edges thereof adapted to straddle and be secured to the side frame members of said cradle. the front and rear edges of said base having respective upwardly diverging front and rear wiper elements thereon, and the upper edges of said elements being disposed in close proximity to the lower reach of the lower apron for removing any accumulations of lint and the like from said lower apron.

2. In a long-draft spinning unit having a cradle including spaced side frame members and upper and lower long-draft aprons guided for movement between said side frame members, an improved clearer formed from relatively thin rigid sheet material and comprising a base,

means to secure the base to the cradle in spaced relationship beneath the lower apron, the front and rear edges of said base having respective upwardly diverging front and rear wiper blades thereon, and the upper edges of said blades terminating in close proximity to the lower reach of the lower apron for removing any accumulations of lint and the like from said lower apron.

3. In a long-draft spinning unit having a cradle including spaced side frame members and upper and lower longdraft aprons guided for movement between said side frame members, an improved clearer formed from relatively thin rigid sheet material and comprising a base, means to detachably secure the base to the cradle in spaced relationship beneath the lower apron, the front and rear edges of said base having respective upwardly diverging front and rear wiper blades thereon, and the upper edges of said blades terminating in close proximity to the lower reach of the lower apron for removing any accumulations of lint and the like from said lower apron.

4. In a long-draft spinning unit having a cradle including spaced side frame members and upper and lower long-draft aprons guided for movement between said side frame members, an improved clearer comprising a flat base, means to secure said base to the lower portions of the side frame members of said cradle, the front and rear edges of said base having respective upwardly projecting front and rear wiper elements thereon, and the upper edges of said elements being disposed in close proximity to the lower reach of the lower apron for removing any accumulations of lint and the like from said lower apron.

5. In a spinning frame or the like having top and bottom rolls including a top intermediate roll, a cradle supported on the bottom intermediate roll and having spaced side frame members and also having a pair of spaced tensor members on its front portion, and upper and lower endless belts mounted on the respective upper and lower intermediate rolls and looped about the respective upper and lower tensor bars; the combination of a clearer comprising a base, means removably securing said base to the lower edges of said side frame members, and at least one upwardly projecting wiper element carried by said base and engaging the lower surface of the lower reach of the lower belt for removing accumulations of lint and the like therefrom.

6. In a spinning frame or the like having top and bottom rolls including a top intermediate roll and a bottom intermediate roll, a cradle supported on the bottom intermediate roll and having spaced side frame members and also having a pair of substantially spaced tensor members on its front portion, and upper and lower endless belts mounted on the respective upper and lower intermediate rolls and looped about the respective upper and lower tensor bars; the combination of a clearer comprising a base, upwardly projecting inwardly biased flanges on opposite sides of said base adapted to resiliently engage the outer surfaces of said frame members for removably securing said base to the lower edges of said side frame members, and at least one upwardly projecting and angularly disposed scraper blade formed on at least one end of said base and engaging the lower surface of the lower reach of the lower belt for removing accumulations of lint and the like therefrom.

7. In a spinning frame or the like having top and bottom rolls including a top intermediate roll and a bottom intermediate roll, a cradle supported on the bottom intermediate roll and having spaced side walls and also having a pair of substantially spaced tensor members on its front portion, said side walls having substantially straight parallel lower edge portions thereon, and upper and lower endless belts mounted on the respective upper and lower intermediate rolls and looped about the respective upper and lower tensor bars; the combination of a clearer comprising a flat relatively thin base, the outer surfaces of the side walls each having a groove therein spaced above and extending substantially parallel to the corresponding straight lower edge portion, a pair of upwardly projecting flanges on opposite side edges of said base, an inwardly projecting rib on each flange adapted to fit in the groove in the corresponding side wall for removably securing said clearer to the lower portions of said side walls, and at least one upwardly projecting wiper element carried by said base and engaging the lower surface of the lower reach of the lower belt for removing accumulations of lint and the like therefrom.

8. In a spinning frame or the like having top and bottom rolls including a top intermediate roll and a bottom intermediate roll, a cradle supported on the bottom intermediate roll and having spaced side walls and also having a pair of substantially spaced tensor members on its front portion, said side walls having substantially straight parallel lower edge portions thereon, and upper and lower endless belts mounted on the respective upper and lower intermediate rolls and looped about the respective upper and lower tensor bars; the combination of a clearer comprising a flat relatively thin base, the outer surfaces of the side walls each having a groove therein spaced above and extending substantially parallel to the corresponding straight lower edge portion, a pair of upwardly projecting flanges on opposite side edges of said base, an inwardly projecting rib on each flange adapted to fit in the groove in the corresponding side wall for removably securing said clearer to the lower portions of said side walls, and the front and rear edges of said base being formed with upwardly diverging wiper portions thereon whose upper edges terminate in close proximity to the lower surface of the lower reach of the lower belt for removing accumulations of lint and the like therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,793 Casablancas Aug. 18, 1936 2,689,382 Andrews et al Sept. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,477 Great Britain of 1907 

